Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager
Location: New Gloucester, ME
Full Time |Permanent |HF Maine - Part of Hewitt Global Operations
Hewitt is committed to delivering safe, high-quality food products and operational excellence across its global supply chain. We are seeking an experienced Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager to lead food safety, quality assurance, sanitation, and regulatory compliance programs at our US operations. This is a critical leadership position where your influence on food safety culture, compliance performance, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence will have a direct and lasting impact on the business.
About the Job
At Hewitt, food safety and quality are at the heart of everything we do. As our Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager, you will play a critical leadership role in protecting product integrity, maintaining regulatory compliance, and driving a culture of continuous improvement across the site. Working closely with Operations, Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, and Supply Chain teams, you'll lead food safety programs, audit readiness, quality initiatives, and compliance activities. This is an opportunity to make a real impact in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where excellence, accountability, and teamwork are highly valued. You'll be a trusted business partner, ensuring our products consistently meet the highest standards while supporting operational performance and business growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead all food safety, quality assurance, sanitation, and regulatory compliance programs across the facility.
- Maintain and continuously improve HACCP plans, food safety systems, prerequisite programs, and quality documentation.
- Drive audit readiness by leading customer, regulatory, USDA, FDA, GFSI, and third-party audits.
- Investigate quality and food safety issues, leading root cause analysis and corrective action programs.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to deliver continuous improvement initiatives that enhance quality and compliance.
- Develop, coach, and mentor Quality Assurance and Sanitation teams while building a strong food safety culture.
About You
You are a passionate food manufacturing quality leader who thrives on creating safe, compliant, and high-performing operations. With a strong technical understanding of food safety systems and quality management principles, you bring a practical and proactive approach to solving complex challenges. You're comfortable leading audits, managing compliance requirements, and partnering with stakeholders across all levels of the business. You have a proven ability to influence change, develop teams, and drive accountability in fast-paced manufacturing environments. Most importantly, you're committed to continuous improvement and creating a culture where food safety and quality remain the highest priorities.
You Will Bring
- Extensive knowledge of USDA, HACCP, GFSI, GMP, SSOP, sanitation programs, and food safety management systems.
- Proven experience leading customer, regulatory, and third-party audits including SQF, BRCGS, or equivalent schemes.
- Strong leadership capability with experience developing high-performing QA and food safety teams.
- Advanced root cause analysis, problem-solving, risk assessment, and investigative skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across functions.
- Experience within food, protein, meat processing, or manufacturing environments, supported by relevant food safety qualifications or certifications.
Work Environment:
This position is primarily based within a food manufacturing facility and requires regular interaction across production, warehouse, sanitation, and office environments.
The role may require occasional travel for customer meetings, training, audits, industry events, and professional development activities.
Work may involve exposure to refrigerated environments, production areas, and manufacturing operations while adhering to all company safety and food safety requirements.
Why Join Hewitt?
- Opportunity to join a growing global food company with an expanding presence across Australia, the United States, and Asia.
- Make a genuine impact on food safety and quality performance while protecting premium products and trusted customer relationships.
- Work with an experienced leadership team committed to operational excellence, food safety, and continuous improvement.
- Ongoing professional development and career growth opportunities within a growing international business.
- Competitive remuneration package including salary, performance incentives, and comprehensive employee benefits.
- Join a business with a 120-year family heritage and a long-term commitment to sustainability, animal welfare, and quality.
- Be part of a collaborative, values-driven culture where innovation, accountability, and teamwork are valued.
- Play a pivotal role in shaping food safety culture and quality excellence within a growing global organisation.
What's Next?
Ready to join our team? Apply today.
If you're an experienced Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager seeking a senior leadership opportunity where you can make a meaningful impact on food safety, compliance, quality culture, and business performance, we encourage you to apply.
Applications Close: 21 August 2026
- By applying, you acknowledge that proof of eligibility to work in the United States will be required.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $80,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
Application Question(s):
- What is your current availability, and what notice period do you need to provide?
- What are your salary expectations?
- Do you have previous experience working in a food processing or manufacturing plant?
- Will you be able to reliably commute to New Gloucester, ME for this role?
Work Location: In person
